The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-21
VOL. ~.
Will Prohibition Prohibit.
From the Progressive Educator,

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regard to the evil of intcmperance
will do no good. 1t is said that
just as much whisky will be sold
and used under such a law as at
present under the lccnce system.
This olt-repeated declaration seems
to be considered as mighty argu-
ment against the proposed consti-
tutlonal amendment in Tennessee.
1t is much used by the professcd
friends Of temperance. Many per-
sons who are temperate and would
like to sec their friends and neigh
bors temperate, are proclaiming in
advance that prohibition, even if
carried in our beloved Tennessee
in the September election, will
prove a failure as temperance
measure do not know whether
those who are engaged in the liquor
business such as brewers, distiIlers
and ar-keepers use this argument
against prohibition or not because
| do not associate with such char
acters. Nor do | know where the
argument originated. But since it
is so popular with many of the
protessed friends Of the temperance
cause let us look at it carefully and
see what there is in it. Let us see
why it must be regarded as fore
gone conclusion that the evil of in
temperance cannot be suppressed
or even restrained by law. We
have law prohibiting murder, and
all do not hear those who are op-
posed to prohibition pleading for
its repeal. And there are many
prohibitory laws in our state, de-
signed to prevent various crimes
but we hear no one proclaiming
himself in favor of the abrogation
OF these laws because they do not
prohibit the crimes against which
they were enacted. Now no one
claims that any prohibitory law
entirety and efecfaalbv prevents
the crime against which it is es.
tablished. But if it diminishes this
crime it is considered a good and
useful law So we think if it car
be reasonably expected that law
prohibiting manufacture and sale
OF intoxicating liquors will in some
good measure diminish drunken
ness and its concomitant evils, thi.
aught to be considered a sufficien
reason for supporting the constitu
tlonal amendment. We are no
able to see any reason why intcm
perance can not Just as well be re
specttully prohibited by civil law
as other evils. There is no law
human OF divine, that is not evadet
and violated. Doubtless any law
against intcmperance would b.
violated in some instances, bu
this is no valid argument agains
the legal prohibition of the liquo
traffic.
But let us see what the avowe,
enemies of prohibition think on thi
subject, do you say you never hea
them speak. Very well you ar
familiar with the old adagc. "Ac
ITEMS speak louder than words.
And since this is true, what do tn
actions of the liquor fraternity sa
tous! In the first place we fin
that the liquor men are thorough
organized. They have their me,
tlngs, in which they consult an
lay plans for carrying on their bu
mess and especially for their wor
in defeating prohibition. The
manifest great interest in the d
feat of the proposed amendment
our State constitution. On the I6t
OF June a meeting of the Sta
Liquor Dealers Association WI
held in the city of Memphis, "Wi
closed doors" The National A
sociation of Wholesale Dealers m
the same day in Chicago, and +
Gently a delegation of the liqu
men of Texas visited St. Louis
ask help in defeating the tempe
ance movement in Texas.
They are actively and Jealous
engaged in fighting prohibitio
But why should they show so mu
interest in contending against
measure that will not injure tn,
business even if it earliest
Again we find that the liqu
men propose to spend large SUI